The Roots

For over a decade now, premiere hip-hop band rhe Roots have given us nothing but pure heavenly sweetness — both on record in the countless extra curricular activities headed by group headpiece ?uestlove — with the dependability of the rising sun. Now with Homegrown, the legendary crew have taken the concept of a greatest hits record to exceptional heights, serving up two volumes of what has to be one of the most comprehensive two-disc histories of any artist, ever. Classic album cuts serve as all important reference points amongst a treasure trove of rare and exclusive b-sides, live takes and alternative mixes that give an impressive depiction of the enormous breadth of the band’s work. From the Roy Ayers-led "Proceed 2” and in-studio performances of "Sacrifice” and "The Seed” showcased on Gilles Peterson’s renowned Worldwide radio program, to the remixed "Don’t Say Nuthin’” and the original Jill Scott mix of "You Got Me” before she was replaced by Erykah Badu, there’s not a single moment of filler in this companion set. What makes Homegrown so complete, however, is not only the selected tracks, but the pages and pages of back-story, as written by the tireless Roots drummer, that accompany each one. Mind you, reading the equivalent of a short book in liner note print is certainly no joy, but the information contained within is well worth a few firm steps down the path to permanent blindness.